Power outages are often an overlooked risk until they happen. However, when our home or business is unprepared for these emergencies, they can leave us to scramble in the dark. And, these events are more common than you’d think. Did you know that ,across the United States, approximately 90,000 outages are reported every 72 hours? They may be minor—but they can still impact hundreds of millions of people across the nation. Additionally, on average, a power outage can last 5.6 hours. What would happen to your home or business during this time frame? Would your operations come to a halt, or are you prepared with a reliable solution to keep everything running smoothly? Let’s see why it may be smart to implement battery backup systems.
Battery Backup Power: An Overview
Before looking at the benefits of these systems, let’s look at what they are and how they work. Basically, battery backup systems provide a reliable power source during outages. They work by storing electricity, from independent systems like solar panels or the grid, which can then be used when needed. These backup systems are important because they ensure that critical devices, such as safety systems, stay powered even when you don’t have access to the grid.
How Battery Backups Work
There are different types of battery backup systems on the market, and they may work differently. However, generally, battery backups work by storing chemical energy, which can then be converted into electrical power to use during outages.
At their core, they contain batteries that are charged when grid, solar, or generator power is available. They are not so different from your laptop or phone battery pack.
The Benefits of Battery Backups for Outage Protection
Battery backups provide a safety net during power outages by providing electricity to your home or business when electricity from the grid isn’t available. The importance of having a continuous supply of power is often overlooked. But stop for a second, and think what would happen when you don’t have access to electricity. Would your business be able to run? Would your home stay safe? Would you be able to live and work comfortably? Here’s where battery backups can be beneficial.
Ensuring Business Continuity
Without electricity, several of your business’s systems may not work. Think about your payment terminals. Would you still be able to take payments during a power cut? An example of this can be found in the recent blackout that affected Spain: businesses who had wired payment systems were no longer able to accept card payments. They had to convert to accept cash only, calculating change and amounts using their phone’s calculators. Customers who didn’t have cash, as cash machines weren’t working, turned to pop-up vendors who had payment terminals powered by batteries.
Battery packs can do even more for your business, keeping machinery and tools in operation, safeguarding data and equipment, and ensuring that your lighting systems continue working. This is critical to keep your business running and reduce downtime costs.
Maintaining Home Power Security
For households, battery backups are more than a luxury. During a power outage, you may notice that several of your systems no longer work, including security systems, connectivity such as WiFi, accessibility features like lifts, lights, and cooking facilities. If you rely on an electric water pump, you may even lose your supply of cold and hot water.
Here, backup systems can help by ensuring that your security and accessibility systems continue to work. Plus, they also facilitate everyday tasks, keeping lights on, allowing you to cook and bathe, and maintaining comfort–which is essential to avoid panic and maintaining peace of mind until electricity returns.
Keeping Emergency and Safety Systems Running
Battery backups are vital for hospitals, clinics, and home safety, particularly if there are elderly people and children in your home or business.
Thanks to these systems, you can take advantage of uninterrupted power, which is essential for life-saving medical equipment and safety devices, reducing risks during emergencies. When you are well-prepared and can enjoy the peace of mind that your friends, family members, or patients are safe, you can also dedicate resources towards helping others affected by the power outage.
Building Resilience and Peace of Mind With Reliable Battery Backups
Your home or business are major assets that should be protected, also from events such as power outages. While these are often overlooked as a risk, they can pose a threat for your profitability, safety, and comfort. By investing in reliable battery backup systems, you can enjoy uninterrupted power supply during outages, which can help you ride out this emergency situation with calm and peace of mind.